Siphon generator and circulator for locomotive boilers



May '26, 1931. ca. H. EMERSON ET AL 1,307,473

SIPHON GENERATOR AND CIRCU'LATOR FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Dec. 4,1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Georg Wi Zl'urrn B.Whifs:'1t

y 1931- G. H. EMERSON ET AL ,807, 73.

SIPHON GENERATOR AND CIRCULATOR FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Dec. 4 0 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Gear e H fmeraon. wlzztanfl Wax 1172225 WAMM G. H.EMERSON ET AL SIPHON GENERATOR AND GIRCULATOR FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS &

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Filed Dec. 4 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwwmtpas:

Patented May, 26, 1931 1 UNITED STATES P ATENT OFFICE enonen n. EMERSONAND WILLIAM B. wm'r'srr'r, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND SIIHON GENERATbR AN DCIRGULATOR FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Application filed December 4, 1930.Serial No. 500,121.

This invention relates to a siphon generator and waterci'rculator forlocomotive boilers, desi ed for use in the fire-boxes of such boilers orincreasing the steam generating 5 capacity of the boiler and promotingthe circulation of the water between the various water containing partsofthe boiler. More particularly the invention relates to a' slphongenerator and water circulator which will into crease the steamgenerating area of the boiler to a material extent, while at the sametime establishing a flow or" water between the side water legs and thewater space above the crown sheet, so as to eflect a siphonic flow .15of the water over the crown sheet to prevent any portion thereof frombeing damaged by heat when the water level is low and to pro mote acirculation of the water in the side water legs where thecirculation isnormally W sluggish, so as to prevent the precipitation of mud and othersolids on the mud ring and liability of mud burning and cracking of thefire-box sheets,

As is well known, a locomotive siphon is a device applied to thefire-box and sometimes to the combustion chamber of a locomotive boilerfor the purpose of increasing the heating surface and at the same timeacting as a protection to the crown'sheet, the rapid m circulation setup by the siphon causing an overflow of water onto the crown sheet, thuspreventing the crown sheet from becoming overheated when the Water islow and pulling away from the staybolts. Ordinarily the 35 locomotiveboiler crown sheet is positioned on an inclined plane, the highest pointbeing at the forward end near the back flue sheet. Therefore, if thewater level in the boiler falls below the proper height, the front partto of the fire-box or crown sheet will become un'- covered and, beingsubjected to the radiant heat in the fire-box, becomes overheated andthe sheets are pulled away from the staybolts because of the internalpressure exerted. This dropping of the locomotive crown sheet sets up avery dangerous condition as a result of which a violent explosion mayfollow, with possible loss of life, due to the sudden flashingvintosteam oflarge quantities of hot wa- 0 ter under high pressure.

A type of locomotive siphon of the character referred to in common useis one comprising one or more transversely fiat, substantiallytriangular drop boxes or water chambers arranged within the firebox andhaving a longitudinally extending top outlet slot communicating with thewater space above the crown sheet, the walls. of said outlet slot beingdefined by flanged walls of the water box which are fitted and welded ina similarly shaped opening cut in the crown sheet, the box having aninlet neck at the base of its front portion which is welded to thethroat sheet and communicates with a lower part of the water containingspace of the boiler formed by the front water leg. An objection to thistype of siphon is that its inlet neck is of restricted cross-sectionalarea compared with the cross-sectional area of the body of the siphon,and as the upper rear portion of 1c the siphon body and the inlet neckare welded or otherwise attached to the crown sheet and throat sheet,respectively, the connections being rigid in order to make themsuficiently strong to withstand the internal steam presas sure, suchportions of the fire-box sheets and the siphon body and neck areprevented from having proper degrees of expansion and contraction underthe internal heat and pressure and are subjected in service to suchstrains as $9 to cause within a comparatively short period of timecracks or fissures in the attached parts of the siphon which set up adangerous condition in the fire-box. Accordingly frequent examinationsand expensive repairs are re- 5 quired in order to keep the siphon in asafe working condition. Attempts have been made to overcome suchobjections to siphons constructed and attached in the manner described,by connecting siphon inlet tubes with the side water legs in order tosecure greater flexibility of the connections, but these prior effortsfor one reason or another have been without material success so far aswe are aware.

One object of our invention is to provide a siphon steam generator andwater circulator which is of such construction and so disposed in thefire-box and connected with the crown sheet and inside sheets of theside water legs 100 that a steam generating surface of greater area persize of fire-box than obtained by any type of siphon heretofore in useis not only produced, but expansion and contraction of .the walls of thesiphon and connections between the same and the fire-box walls are morenearly equalized and the flexibility of such connections increased,whereby the siphon and its attached parts are relieved from excessivestrains and the ready formation of cracks or fissures avoided.

A further object of the invention is to providea construction of thesiphon body and arrang'ement of the same in the fire-box and connectionof said siphon body with the side water legs through the use of flexiblewater tubes in such manner as to permit these parts to freely bend orflex so as to be relieved of undue pressures and strains, while at thesame time effecting such a free circulation of the water between theside water legs and other water containing portions of the boiler as toprevent the undue deposit of mud-at the foo bottoms of the side waterlegs and the stated objections incident thereto.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts,hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection through the fire-box of a locomotive boiler embodying ourinvention, taken on line 1-1 of Fig-2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section Ehrough the fire-box taken online 22 of ig. 3is a vertical longitudinal section. on line 33 of Fig.2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates alocomotive fire-box of a standard type comprising a door sheet 2, fiuesheet 3, side sheets 1 and a crown sheet 5. The crown sheet istransversely arched or curved as usual and merges into the side sheets.Forming a continuation with the base of the flue sheet 3 is the insidethroat sheet 6. The side sheets and crown sheet extend between and areconnected at their ends to the door sheet 2 and flue and throat sheets 3and 6, respectivel and the crown sheet extends in an mcline plane in anupward and forward direction, its highest point being at its forward endwhere it connects with the flue sheet. The wrapper of the boilerincludes a roof sheet 7, a back head 8, outer fire-box sheets 9, and anouter throat sheet 10. The described parts of the fire-box and wrapperare arran d in the manner well known to providet e front water leg '11,rear water leg 12,

side'water legs 13, and the water space 14' between the crown sheet 5and the roof sheet 7. The dotted line 15 represents the normal gratesurface. The fire-box is secured to and supported from the outer wrapperor shell by means of the usual longitudinal and transas unessential to aproper disclosure of our invention. The construction so far described istypical of a type of locomotive boiler in general use and need not forthat reason be described in greater detail.

Disposed within the fire-box is one or more siphon generators and watercirculators embodying our invention, two of such generators andcirculators being shown in the present instance, arranged on oppositesides of the longitudinal center of the fire-box and between the sameand the fire-box side walls. Each of these siphon generators and watercirculators comprises a trough-like body or box 16, which is closed atits bottom and each end and 0 en at its top. This trough-like body ma ofthe same depth throughout, from en to end thereof, and extends the majorportion of the distance between the flue and door sheets. The trough issupported from the crown sheet 5 a-nd communicates at its top with thewater space 14. In practice, the trough is preferably fitted and securedin position by cutting away a portion of the crown sheet to form'areceiving slot and fianging out the side and end walls .Verse rows ofstaybolts, not shown in detail of the trough at their up or edges, asshown at 17 and welding such anged out edges to the edge walls of theslot in the crown sheet, as indicated at 18. An; elongated passage 19for the flow of water between the trough and water space 14 is thusprovided, whereby, in the operation of the boiler, a constant siphonicflow of the water from the trough into the space 14 and over the crownsheet 5 is secured, so that in the event of the water falling below anormal working level in the boiler, and exposing a portion of the crownsheet, such portion will be protected by the siphonic flow from the trouh and overheating of the crown sheet by the heat from the fire-boxefi'ectually prevented.

The trough 16 is sub'ected directly to the radiant heat-from the re-boxand acts as a steam generator as well as a siphonic circulator wherebythe steam generating area and capacity of the boiler are materiallyincreased. In practice the trough may be of any suitable cross-sectionalshape, but it is preferred to make it of greatest width at its ase andtapering therefrom radually and uniformly, and thus. diminishing inwidth, toward the passage 19. The sides of the trough thus converge fromthe trough bottom toward the flanged side edges 17, whereby the tendencyof the upflowing water to be separated by the generated steam bubblesfrom the side walls of the trough is prevented and the water caused toflow in contact with such walls, thus preventing the same from beingleft bare and possibly overheated and damaged. These walls of the troughare united tee insane by staybolts whereby they are strength ened andreinforced to withstand the imthe boiler as a steam generator, and thedescribed arrangement of the washout plugs posed strains. It will beobservedthat this Lpermits of the ready and convenient removal tilconstruction of the drop water trough reduces the size of the opening oropenings necessary to be cut in the crown sheet'for the reception clothetrough or troughs employed, so that the crown sheet is not deprived ofany great portion of its material and remains alst entirely intact andof unitary construction, so that the strength of the crown sheet is notimpaired, and all the advantagesor a unitary sheet formation remains,includin the unbroken integral surfaces over whic the water y freelyflow. The disadvantages of a non-unitary or builtup type of crown sheetare thereby eflectually avoided. w l

Each trough ibis connected at regular intervals throughout its length bywater circulating tubes 21 with the water leg 13 at the contiguous sideof the boiler. Thus the two water troughs 16 communicate throughseparate groups of tubes 21 with the water legs 13 at the opposite sidesof the boiler. The tubes of each set communicate at their upper endswith the bottom of the trough 16 and at their lower ends with the waterleg 13 at a desired low level above the level of the mud ring are fittedand rolled or headed into openings in the bottom of the trough 1d andside sheet 4.- and welded to the trough bottom and side sheet. Byarranging these tubes so that they connect with the side water leg at acomparatively low level, the tubes may be bent so as to extend on alongitudinal curve of comparatively wide radius, thus adapting the tubesto bend order: easily and freely and to permit independent flexingmotions of the crown and side sheets and walls of the troughs, withoutresistance from any of the parts oi the fire-box installation, thusovercoming the objections to prior siphons of the character describedand any tendency of the fine-box walls, wamr troughs, or the connectionsbetween them to warp or crack.

The form, construction and arrangement of the troughs lfi'and tubes 21are'such as to permit of the application to the roof sheet 7 and outerfire-box sheets 9 of washoutplugs 23 arranged in alinement with the endsof each tube of a group of tubes 21, whereby a washout tool may beintroduced forthe purose of washing the troughs and tubes free rom'mudand other deposits at desired intervals. This is of great importance andadvantags, as the connection of the troughs 16 through the tubes 21 withthe lower portions of the side water legs creates a strong circulationof the water between the water space 14 and the side water legs, tendingto keep the bottom portions of such waterlegs substantially free frommud and other deposits, and correspondingly increasing the eflicielpcyof 22. Preferably the ends of the tubes adjacent the flue sheet to a atfrequent intervals of the deposits whichtubes 21, whereby the watercontaining spaces may be kept to a still further degree free fromsedimentary deposits, thus still further increasing the capacity andefiiciency of the boiler as a steam generator. Our. improvedconstructionof siphon steam generator and water circulator permits of the use of theconventional arch tubes 24 and arch brick 25 without change fromconventional practice.

It will be observed from the foregoing that with our construction sincethe siphon body or trough 16 is supported directly and wholly from thecrown shoot, it can move freely with the crown sheet in its expansionsand contractions, and since the circulating tubes 21 are of relativelysmall sectional area, and relatively long in proportion to theirsectional area, and connected at their lower ends with the side sheetinstead of, the throat sheet, no resistance is set up which will preventthe fire-box sheets from adj usting themselves freely and easily to thenormal strains. Our invention, therefore, notonly increases the steamgenerating capacity of the boiler to a greater extent than ispermissible with ordinary locomotive siphons, and ensures the keepin ofthe watento a greater degree clear from eposits, but also prevents orreduces to a material degre cracks in the fire-box due to resistance toovement of parts under strains when more or less rigid connectionsbetween the siphon and fire-box sheets are employed. With the use of twosiphons and sets of circulating tubes as disclosed the heating surfaceof a fire-box having 228 square feet of such surface may be increased toan extent of 77 square feet, without interfering with the freecombustion of the fuel or circulation of the fuel gases or in any mannerinfirfering with the normal action of the fire- Having thus fullydescribed our invention, we claim 1. The combination with a locomotiveboiler having a fire-box including a flue sheet, a door sheet, a crownsheet and side sheets, said crown and side sheets respectively forminthe inner walls of anupper water space an side water legs, of a Watersteaming and cire culating device comprising a trough sup ported by thecrown sheet and extending longitudinally of the fire-box from a point.

point adjacent the door sheetand opening at its top through the crownsheet into the said upper water space, .and tubes extending from thebottom of the trough to a side sheet and connecting said trough with theassociated side water leg.

2. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box includinga flue sheet, a door sheet, a crown sheet and side sheets, said crownand side sheetsrespectively forming the inner walls of an upper waterspace and side water legs, of a water steaming and circulating devicecomprising a trough of substantially equal depth from end to end thereofsupported by the crown sheet and extending longitudinally of thefire-box from a point adjacent the flue sheet to a point adjacent thedoor sheet and opening at its top through the crown sheet into the saidupper water space, and longitudinally curved tu es extending from thebottom of the trough to a side sheet and connecting said trough with theassociated side water legs," said tubes being adapted to bend or flexfreely to prevent resistance therefrom to expanding and contractingmovements of the crown and side sheets.

3. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box includinga flue sheet, a door sheet, a crown sheet and side sheets, said crownand side sheets respectively forming the inner walls of an upper waterspace and side water legs, of a water steaming and circulating devicecomprising a trough extending longitudinally of the fire-box from apoint adjacent the flue sheet to a oint adjacent the door sheet andopening at its top through the crown sheet into the said upper waterspace, said trough bein of substantially equal depth from end to enthereof and being of maximum width at its base and of graduallydiminishing width toward its top, and tubes extendin from the bottom ofthe trough to a si e sheet and connecting said trough with theassociated side water 1e 4. The combination with a locomotive boi erhaving a fire-box including aflue sheet, a

door sheet, a crown sheet and side sheets, said crown and side sheetsrespectively formin the inner walls of an upper water space and sidewater legs, of a water steaming and circulating device comprising atrough extending longitudinally of the fire-box from a point adjacentthe fluesheet to a point adjacent the door sheet and opening at its topthrough the crown sheet into the said upper water space, said troughbeing of substantially equal depth from end to end thereof and being ofmaximum width at its base and of gradually diminishing width toward itstop, and longitudinally curved tubes extending from the bottom of thetrough to a side sheet and connectingsaid trough with the associatedside water leg.

5. The combination with a locomotive boiler including its fire-box, of asteam generating and water circulating receptacle extendinglongitudinally within the fire-box, said receptacle being arrangedbeneath and supported 'solely from the crown chest and being ofsubstantially uniform depth from end to end thereof and having anoutletat its top opening through the crown sheet into the upper water space ofthe boiler, and tubes connecting said receptacle with a water s ace ofthe boiler at a side thereof and exten ing on curved lines for freebending or flexin movements of the boiler sheets to which sai receptacleand tubes are attached.

6. The combination with a locomotive boiler including its fire-box, of alongitudinally extending steam generating and water circulatingreceptacle arranged in the firebox and attached to the crown sheetthereof, said receptacle having a passage at its top opening through thecrown sheet into the water space thereabove, tubes connecting the bottomof said receptacle with a side sheet of the fire-box and opening into aside water leg thereof, and suitably closed washout openings arranged inthe outer walls of said upper water space and water leg in alinementwith the ends of the tubes for the introduction of a washout toolthereinto.

7. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box includinga flue sheet, a door sheet, a crown sheet and side sheets, said crownsheet and side sheets respectively forming the inner walls of an upperwater space and side water legs, of a water steaming and circulatingdevice arranged at each side of the center of the fire-box, and eachcomprising a trough of substantially equal depth from end to end thereofsupported by the crown sheet and opening at its top through said crownsheet into said upper water space, and a longitudinally disposed set ofspaced tubes extending from the bottom of each trough toward the sidesheet at the same side of the fire-box and connecting said trough withthe associated side water 1e 8. The combination with a %ocomotive boilerhaving a fire-box including a flue sheet,

a door sheet, a crown sheet and side sheets, saidcrownsheet and sidesheets respectively forming the inner walls of an upper water space andside water legs, of a water steaming and circulating device arranged ateach side of the center of the fire-box, and each comprising a trough ofsubstantially equal depth from end to end thereof supported by the crownsheet and opening at its top through said crown sheet into said upperwater space, and a longitudinally disposed set of longitudinally curvedtu es extending from the bottom of the troug at each side of the fireboxto the side sheet of the fire-box at said side and connecting saidtrough with the associated side water leg.

9. ,The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box includina flue sheet, a door sheet, a crown sheet an side sheets, said crownsheet and side sheets respectively forming the inner walls of an u perwater space and side water legs, 0? a 'water steaming and circulatingdevice arranged at each side of the center of the firebox, and eachcomprising a trough of substantially equal depth from end to end thereofsupported by the crown sheet and opening at its top through said crownsheet into said upper water s ace, each trough being of maximum widt atits base and thence tapering toward its top opening, and

a set of longitudinally disposed longitudinally curved tubes connectingthe bottom of each trou h with the side sheet at the same side of there-box and opening through said sheet into the associated side waterleg.

10. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box includina. flue sheet, a door sheet, a crown sheet and si esheets, said crownsheet and side sheets respectively forming the inner walls of an upperWater space and side water legs, of a water steaming and circulatingdevice arranged at each side of the center of the fire-box, and eachcomprising a trough of substantially equal depth from end to end thereofsupported by the crown sheet and opening at its top through said crownsheet into said upper water space, a row of spaced longitudinally curvedtubes connecting the bottom of each trough with the side sheet at thesame side of the fire-box and opening through said sheet into theassociated side water leg, and suitably closed washout openings arrangedin the top and side walls of the boiler in line with the ends of thetubes whereby a washout device may be inserted into said tubes.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signa- I tures.

GEORGE H. EMERSON.

LIAM B. WHITSITT.

